Chapter IV.—The
Macedonians, who had subscribed the ‘Homoousian’ Doctrine,
return to their Former Error.

After the deputation from the
Macedonians to Liberius, that sect was admitted to entire communion
with the churches in every city, intermixing themselves
indiscriminately with those who from the beginning had embraced the
form of faith published at Nicæa. But when the law of the Emperor
Gratian permitted the several sects to reunite without restraint in the
public services of religion, they again resolved to separate
themselves; and having met at Antioch in Syria, they decided to avoid
the word homoousios again, and in no way to hold communion with
the supporters of the Nicene Creed. They however derived no advantage
from this attempt; for the majority of their own party being disgusted
at the fickleness with which they sometimes maintained one opinion, and
then another, withdrew from them, and thenceforward became firm
adherents of those who professed the doctrine of the
homoousion.687687 For an account of this deputation and their feigned
subscription to the Nicene Creed, through which they prevailed upon
Liberius to receive them into the communion of the church, see IV.
12.

687 For an account of this deputation and their feigned
subscription to the Nicene Creed, through which they prevailed upon
Liberius to receive them into the communion of the church, see IV.
12.